'If they don't hit us, we won't hit them': Zelenskyy pushes for Russia to agree to full ceasefire

LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago

UKRAINE PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine won’t hit Russian targets if Russia doesn’t hit Ukraine as efforts forge ahead to try to strike a ceasefire between the two countries.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for 90 minutes yesterday, during which time Putin agreed to pause strikes on Ukraine energy targets for 30 days.

However, he refused to commit to a full ceasefire. Hours later, Russia launched hits on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy has accused Vladimir Putin of having “effectively rejected” a full ceasefire between the nations after the Russian drone attacks on multiple Ukrainian regions last night.

“It is these types of nighttime attacks by Russia that destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the normal life of Ukrainians. And the fact that this night is no exception shows that the pressure on Russia must continue for the sake of peace,” Zelenskyy said.

“Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire. It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war.”

Zelenskyy met today with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.

In a press conference after the meeting, Zelenskyy said that the US should be the “main controlling entity” overseeing Russia’s promise to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

“If the Russians don’t hit our targets, we will definitely not hit their targets,” Zelenskyy said.

Putin told Trump earlier that for a full ceasefire to work, Ukraine must not be allowed to rearm and must halt mandatory mobilisation.

However, Zelenskyy said: “I do not believe that we should make any concessions in terms of assistance for Ukraine but rather there should be an increase in assistance for Ukraine.” 

Advertisement

Zelenskyy has long maintained, including as recently as yesterday, that Putin wanted to weaken Ukraine and was “not ready to end this war”.

Other elements of the ceasefire proposal brokered yesterday were that Russia and Ukraine will swap 175 prisoners of war (POWs) each today.

Germany accused President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday of “playing a game” after Kyiv reported Russian strikes on Ukranian civilian infrastructure hours after Moscow agreed to temporarily pause attacks on energy facilities.

“We’ve seen that attacks on civilian infrastructure have not eased at all in the first night after this supposedly ground-breaking, great phone call” between Putin and US President Donald Trump, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said with sarcasm in a TV interview.

‘Very much on track’

This afternoon, Trump hailed a “very good” call with Zelenskyy, adding that efforts to secure a full ceasefire in Russia’s three-year-old invasion remained “on track” – despite the fact that his call with Putin failed to produce any broader peace deal.

Zelensky said after the “frank” call that Ukraine was ready to pause strikes on both Russian energy and civilian infrastructure.

Trump said he spoke for around an hour with his Ukrainian counterpart, their first conversation since they had a blazing televised row in the Oval Office just over two weeks ago.

“Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

“We are very much on track.”

The White House later said that during the call Trump had floated US “ownership” of Ukrainian power plants as it would be the “best protection” for them.

The billionaire former real estate mogul has already pushed Kyiv into a deal to give the United States preferential access to its critical mineral resources.

Trump also pledged to help Ukraine get more air defense equipment from Europe, a statement from National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Additional reporting by Lauren Boland and AFP

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More Support The Journal